Boat propulsion



June 29, 1954 F. BRADY 2,632,249

' BOAT PROPULSION Filed July 21, 1952 gwucm tov f 100/5 A fienov Patented June 29, 1954 OFFICE 1 o n PROPULSION V w ,to rgersoy. Toledo, Ohio np ioationau y z 1952, Serial No. 300,057

This invention 1 relates to-mechanical move ments, more particularly as manually operable for selectively 'directing the power application course and the mechanical advantage therefor; This invention has i utility when incorporated in marine propulsion, especially of advantages in fishing, such astrollingoperations. As a readily portable unit such be mounted "on the row boat stern, as'there belclearway therefor; Should there be outboard motor,- or other propulsion to be 'avoided in the 'mounting of the device herein disclosed, the anchorage may even bealong the side of the boat or gunwale. "The settings and manipulations adapt for forward or rear propul sion, as well as steering atoperation', or even placing as a'ruddero ,"Referring to the drawings: -Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention installedon a row boat, a portion of theiboat being broken-away, and theG-Clamp mounting features outof proportion enlarged; Fig.2 is a fragmentary side elevationgon an enlarged scale over Fig. 1; the cover plate for the'housing being removedpwith the*parts'-at the recover starting or feathering, asa'gainst'fo'rward propulsionstarting position in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevationpwith'portions broken away, of the paddle mounting and operating shaft and features of control for such "shaft;

= Fig.4 is a detail view; in plan,"of the C-clampand the angularly adjustable armtherefrom for carrying the mechanical movement unit; and

Fig. is a section on the line v v, of Fig. 3, of the manually operable controlset for rearward propulsion of the boat, instead of forward as in F 1., V

boat ,1 (Fig 1) isshown afloat in lake or stream wa ter 2. At stern 3 of the boat I there is astride thereof a ;C-clam of body 4, a pad '5, and. an externally threaded stem or operating crank'ii for readily mounting and releasing the unit. Anextension top plate] provides pivot mounting for a bolt 8 to clamp a hinge leaf 9 at angularly adjustable osition with the clamp 4, I, at a position as set to be held by wing nut II). A hinge pivot pin ll rockably assembles strap or hinge leaf l2 With the strap or hinge leaf 9. Bolts or screws l3 assemble the strap hinge 9, I I, I2, with mechanical movement carrying housing or frame l4 of the unit. A front or closure plate It is provided for a side of the housing I4.

A stra hinge l6, l1, l8, has bolts or screws [9 assembling this pivotal mounting means in the housing [4. Bolts or screws 20 anchor an operating rod or handle 2| to swing on the pivot 2. claims. (01. 115 2 9 pin first connection ll of this hinge as a lever of this second classllever fulcrum, with the lever rod or handle extendingthru an opening'or slot 22 in the housing [4. A set screw 23 may mount a telescopically adjustable extension 24 on the operating lever 2! free end. The lever 21 may be of suitable length for'the fisherman or boat op-' erator to use the boat rear seat as at the stern. However, should the operator desire to be seated nearer amidship, the extension 24 provides for such adjustmentqas maybe most desired, with .the resultant mechanical. advantage of a longer operatingarm fromthe fulcrum I l to act on the load ata work pivot 25. I

The pivot 25 has a linkage second connection 26 to aninternally threadedsleeve or pipe coupling fitting 21. External complementary threading-:28 is at the upper end of main operating shaft 29- l The threading connection between the sleeve- 21 and the shaft 29 provides for a range of relative angular movement. Under the disclosure herein afull. takes care of the operation for, the reversal. In ,its downward projection thru and from the housing 54, lower free portion of the shaft 29 has a set screw 3H for telescopic adjustment with a sleeve 3| having attachment means 32 to aidisk or-paddle 33.

In the housing i4 is a guide sleeve 34 for the shaft 29. This sleeve 34 extends fromthe bottom of the housing l4 upward short of pitched pair of cam slots '35., These slots 35 are in the nature oftwo-pitch threading of slightly. over 90. It is to be noted that the circumferential advance is somewhat over four times the diameter of the shaft 29. There is thus a long pitch in the cam-action of the slots 35 as in diametrical relation. v

Spaced from the tubularshaft 29 by the sleeve 34 is an outersleeve 36, further coacting as an angular control'for the shaft 29. While the sleeve 36 may have external threading thruout its length, external threading 32' thereof is important for its upper portion in coacting with-complementary internal threading 38 at a bearing 39 carried by a supporting strap 43 in rigid assembly with the housing 14.

Diametrical openings 4| in the sleeve 36 are brought in register, say with the lower extremities of the slots 35, for a control pin 42 to be thrust therethrough and to be there anchored by a nut 43. A slot 44 in the front plate l5 of the housing [4, provides a way from which protrudes a handle 45 as an operating extension for the pin 42, positioned to ride along the upper edge of a housing reinforcing strap 46. A left top depression or catch stop 41 provides a yieldable holding means for the pin 42. This positioning of the handle 45 as to the strap 46 and the slot 44 locates the pin 42 at the bottom of the slots 35, so that as the feathering stroke from Fig. 2 is completed and down pressure is exerted on the hand lever 2|, 24, the paddle is given a 90 turn away from feathering initially in the short down-riding of the shaft 29 which brings the pin 42 to the upper ends of the slots 35, where the paddle shaft is held by the pin 42 for flatwise back swing in forward propulsion action on the boat I. The complementary threading 31, 38, mounting the sleeve 36 in the housing l4, accomodates this angular control.

For the boat operator to effect backing of the boat, or rearward propulsion, it is only necessary that the handle 45 be shifted from its left extreme position (Fig. 3), to the right for catch 48 to become effective. At this position, with the pin 42 at the bottom of the slots 35, the paddle 33 is flatwise as to the direction of the boat, and down stroke of the handle 2!, 24, at once rocks the paddle 90 for feathering. With the paddle thus shifted away from the boat stern, the upstroke of the hand lever 2|, 24, first shifts the paddle away from feathering to fiatwise toward the boat stern in pulling the boat aft. The under side of the handle loo 45 is in the form of a spring leaf 49, affording more firm holding for the handle 45 as shifted from forward to reverse.

With the paddle 33 located in a feathering position, it is an effective rudder, even if other propulsion means be in use. Additionally steering may be taken into account in the propulsion, whether forward or rearward, by loosening the wingnut :0, if there is to be adjustment, while if for a fixed circular course, there may be tightening of the set screw 10 for the desired angle of travel in the arc. While there may normally be considered maximum advantage for overstern location of this mechanical movement propulsion unit and control, anchoring of such at a desired position on a gunwale, of either side may be had, or even in multiple for on opposite sides as a substitute for cars. The pivot bolt 8 provides range for the paddle to be swung fore and aft from a boat side, with the handle not very much outboard.

The adjustable assembly of the projecting portions from the housing, as for the hand lever and paddle, are to parts thus readily removed, allowing for compact handling of the unit for transport to and from the boat location where desired to be installed.

The general tubular construction features contribute to weight lightness of the unit, and such may go further by adopting aluminum or magnesium as the metal. The enclosing of the lever mounting and the swivel transmission together with the control therefor in the housing, responds to ready lubrication with absence of exposure of connections between relatively movable parts and occasion for hurting an operator as well as avoiding having apparel or other matter becoming snarled therewith.

The transmission connections and control as disclosed are quiet in operation. This in many instances is of importance in eificient angling operations.

It is to be noted that the feathering, or change of effective relation of the paddle to the housing, in practice is obtained independent of any spring. In the first place the paddle 33 is just slightly off-center or balance as to the mounting shaft 3| therefor, and this, coupled with the resistance of the water, at once there is reverse operation direction instituted therefor, causes the paddle to shift, as from paddle effecting position to feathering position. In the set-up as disclosed, when the control handle 45 is set for boat forward travel, then thrusting of the handle 2|, 24, to its up position serves to hold the paddle in feathering plane. As so held, it serves as an effective rudder, and with the wing nut I0 loosened, the steering direction may be carried out in the direction desired. When the control handle 45 is set for reverse, then the up-limit for the handle 2 I, 24', holds the paddle 33 against feathering. Accordingly, as so submerged, there is effective braking or stopping for the boat. With the area for the paddle 33 taken as equivalent of a normal pair of oars, there is available effective boat control, not only for stopping, but in propulsion for forward, reverse, and elected angle of steering.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A boat propulsion unit comprising a support adapted to be fixed to a boat, a frame, there being a hinge mounting the frame on the support, a second class lever having a fulcrum in and connected to the frame, the lever extending past the hinge to protrude from the frame and there form a handle for applying power to the lever, and a paddle below the frame, there being a shaft rising from the paddle and extending into the frame with a pivotal connection to the lever, said pivotal connection locating a load for the lever between the handle and the fulcrum, said hinge and fulcrum being axially parallel.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein there is a releasable clamp included in the support, said clamp being spaced from the hinge on the side of the hinge remote from the fulcrum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,909 Willard Oct. 6, 1885 451,431 Houck et a1 Apr. 28, 1891 946,198 Bowles Jan. 11, 1910 961,285 Bryant June 14, 1910 987,794 Chaudron Mar. 28, 1911 1,273,176 Olsen July 23, 1918 1,668,408 Johnson May 1, 1928 1,737,899 Taylor Dec. 3, 1929 2,281,915 Carrier May 5, 1942 

